Preps: Top 10 high school stories of 2013

There was no shortage of tremendous achievements at the high school level in 2013. As the year winds down, the Ames Tribune staff compiled the top 10 list of the most memorable stories.

There was no shortage of tremendous achievements at the high school level in 2013. As the year winds down, the Ames Tribune staff compiled the top 10 list of the most memorable stories.

1. You can’t catch Clifford

Senior running back Clifford Kwaw-Mensah awed Ames football fans and foes alike this fall, rushing for a state Class 4A record 2,806 yards and scoring 40 total touchdowns.

His long scoring runs were nothing short of beautiful, and along with quarterback Sam Straub and receiver Alex Brammer, he was part of a record-setting trio that led the Little Cyclones to an 11-1 mark, including an undefeated regular season with a district title. Just before Christmas, Kwaw-Mensah announced he would continue his football career as a walk-on at Iowa State next fall.

2. Ames swimming and diving achieves the 4-peat

How about this for a career? The Ames seniors never lost a swimming and diving meet in their tenure as Little Cyclones. It culminated in November with another dominant victory at the state meet, as Ames became just the fifth program in state history to win four straight titles.

3. Gibbons, Tigers reign supreme

Two years after winning individual and team state cross-country titles at Dowling Catholic, junior Grace Gibbons helped a new set of teammates do the same. Gibbons won the 2A individual crown in early November in her first year at Gilbert, leading the Tigers to a team state title as well.

4. Pollard becomes a Drake Relays champion

Then-sophomore Thomas Pollard of Gilbert achieved the biggest win of his running career when he won the 3,200 meters at the Drake Relays in April, his 9:10.97 clocking coming within six seconds of the all-time prep best at the prestigious event. Pollard’s success continued into December, when he became an All-American by taking 13th at the Foot Locker Cross-Country Championships.

5. Area schools shine at state track and field championships

Three area athletes were at their best with everything on the line in May at the boys’ track and field state championships. Collins-Maxwell-Baxter’s Zach Samson won a Class 2A shot put title, teammate Bryce Kemp pulled off a surprising victory in the 110-meter hurdles and South Hamilton’s Triston Twedt took the 400 hurdles crown in Class 1A.

6. Gilbert football ends West Marshall’s dominance

For so long, West Marshall had dominated in district play. Never in school history had Gilbert won a district crown. It all came to an end when the Tigers stunned the third-ranked Trojans, 40-14, in late October to win the Class 2A, District 7 title. It was West Marshall’s first district loss since 2009.

7. Ames girls’ cross-country takes second at state

Behind a sixth-place individual finish from junior Caroline Marnin, the Ames girls were runners-up at state cross-country in early November behind champion Dowling. With every key runner set to return next year, the Little Cyclones have already served warning. "Dowling, we’re coming for you," Marnin said.

8. On Hovick’s shoulders

Roland-Story baseball matched its furthest advancement in school history, reaching the state semifinals before bowing out to eventual champion Beckman Catholic. The Norsemen did it on the strength of ace pitcher Zach Hovick, a junior who threw complete games in each of the team’s four postseason wins.

9. Kick it for the Cubs

The Nevada girls’ and boys’ soccer programs each made deep runs in the Class 1A postseason last spring. The Nevada girls advanced to the semifinals before falling 4-2 to eventual champion Davenport Assumption, while the Nevada boys also lost in the semifinals, then responded with a 3-1 victory against West Liberty to take third at state.

10. Qin/Pitcher take second at state tennis

With shot-making creativity and cat-like reflexes that made for brilliant net play, Ames seniors Alex Qin and Tommy Pitcher teamed up to finish second in doubles at the boys’ tennis individual state tournament in late May.